Stealth, Silvertips raise $15,000 for youth programs

EVERETT — Players from the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips united with those from the National Lacrosse League’s Washington Stealth on Thursday night for the inaugural Comcast Arena Classic benefit.

This time mixed teams, featuring players from each sport, played a lacrosse match and raised $15,000 for area youth hockey and lacrosse programs. Next year, the benefit moves to the ice for a game of hockey.

Mitch Skapski was named the Most Valuable Player from the Silvertips while Jason Bloom earned MVP from the Stealth.

“It was a really good experience,” Skapski, a rookie forward for the Tips, said. “It was funny watching our guys doing the best they could out there, just closing their eyes and trying hit the net. But the Stealth guys were great and helped us get going. We had a great time, and it’s an even better feeling that it was all to help out kids in the area.”

Veteran forward Reid Petryk was the highest-scoring hockey player in the game, leading all Silvertips with two goals and two assists for Team White. Longtime Stealth star Lewis Ratcliff, currently Washington’s second-leading goal scorer, had four goals and two assists Thursday for the White Team.

“I went hard for a quarter and then purposely slowed down,” said Bloom, a recently-retired NLL veteran and current Stealth assistant coach. “We’ve watched the Tips and cheered for them, but it was a lot of fun to get out and actually play with them. Some of the Tips guys were already talking about next season when they can get us on the ice.”